Lady Wildcats coach has no plans for change

NEW FACE IN TOWNMiller has no plans for changeNew Humble boss says he wants team's success from last year to continue

TODD HVEEM, Chronicle Correspondent

Published
5:30 am CDT, Thursday, August 5, 2004

The Humble Lady Wildcats might have a new face at the end of the bench, but Kevin Miller promises the rest of the up-and-coming volleyball program will remain the same.

"It's always tough when there is a coaching change. Especially on the seniors," said the 30-year-old Miller, who recently replaced Rhonda Dunn as the Lady Cats' head coach. "But we are going to continue what Rhonda was doing. We share a lot of the same philosophies.

"There shouldn't be much change just because there is a new coach. We are going to continue what Rhonda has successfully been doing the past three years."

Dunn resigned as head coach after her husband accepted the head wrestling job at Arlington Martin High School. Dunn also is going to teach in Martin's school district, but has no plans to coach this season, Miller said.

Debt of gratitude

Miller said he has an obligation to do well at Humble, given that Dunn was instrumental in his getting the job.

"I was the varsity assistant coach at Tomball, working with Sherri Wallace, when I met Rhonda Dunn," Miller said. "She was coaching at Conroe at the time, and we became friends.

"After Rhonda went to Humble, we remained friends even though we didn't get to play them as much. I wasn't looking to leave, but when I got a message from Rhonda that she was leaving unexpectedly, the job sort of fell into my lap. I sent in an application and, lo and behold, here I am."

He said he's just now getting settled after a quick turnaround.

"It all happened in a three-or-four-day span," he said. "I kind of took over on the spur of the moment. I wasn't looking, but I am definitely ready for it."

Déja vu

Ironically, Miller coached this year's group of seniors when he was a coach at
Timberwood Middle School
during his first year out of college.

"A lot of the seniors were seventh-graders (at the time)," he said."Now, I get the chance to coach them again. That should make it easier. They are familiar with some of my philosophies. We know each other a little bit."

The Lady 'Cats return 12 seniors to this year's team, but Miller said he plans to give everybody an "equal chance."

"We should have a highly senior-laden team," he said. "We will have a lot of experience on the court. But all of these girls are going to have to step up and take care of business. Everybody will get the same chance (to prove themselves)."

A busy schedule

Humble opened practice Monday and opens the season against A&M Consolidated on Aug. 10. The team will also participate in the Katy, Pearland and Kingwood tournaments before District 22-5A play.

"I think all those games will be very beneficial for us," Miller said. "I will know who can do what (by the end of non-district play). A lot of mistakes are made the first half of the season. That will be beneficial for us."